Toy erection kit



Feb. 10, 1970 A. FISCHER I TOY ERECTION KIT Filed March 29, 1968 UnitedStates Patent O 3,494,218 TOY ERECTION KIT Artur Fischer, 133Grunmettstettcrstrasse, 7241 Tumlingen, Kreis, Freudenstadt, GermanyFiled Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 717,255 Claims priority, applicationGermany, Apr. 8, 1967, F 52,077; June 14, 1967, F 52,681 Int. Cl. Flh55/22 US. Cl. 74-432 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy erectionkit which includes an elongated worm gear having spaced axial endportions at least one of which is provided with a torque-transmittingportion, such as an annulus of gear teeth surrounding the axis ofrotation of the worm gear, so that torque may be transmitted to orreceived from another element of the toy erection kit via thetorque-transmitting portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to toyerection kits, and more particularly to a gear member for use in suchtoy erection kits. Still more specifically the present invention relatesto a worm gear for use in toy erection kits.

It is known to provide toy erection kits with various gears by means ofwhich the child using the kit may construt operating models of vehicles,machines and the like. Frequently, such gear arrangements comprise awormgear drive, for instance when the realtively high number ofrotations per minute of the output shaft of an electric motor must bereduced to a lower number of rotations for the actual operation of themodel. Heretofore such worm gears have been capable of fulfilling onlytheir most elementary function, namely to be driven by a prime mover andto reduce the output speed of the prime mover for transmittal to theinput shaft of a model. It is advantageous, however, if such worm gearscan be utilized in other ways because this evidently will enhance theirversatilityand thereby the versatility of the erection kitwhile at thesame time reducing the complexity and expense of the erection kit.

For instance, it is advantageous that the worm gear be capable ofcooperatively engaging with other gears, either by direct engagement orby indirect engagement via a drive belt or the like. Thus, it becomespossible to transmit torque to or receive torque from the worm gearrather than having the latter be directly coupled with and driven by theprime mover. On the other hand it is clear that, even if the worm gearis driven directly by a prime mover, such an arrangement as proposedherein will be advantageous because frequently a single prime mover isin tended to drive two or more separate models or elements of a modelwherein it is necessary that one model be driven at a rotational speedsignificantly lower than the output speed of the prime moved whereas itis desired that the other model be driven at a highed speed which mayperhaps approach the output speed of the prime mover.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide aconstruction possessed of the aforementioned advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one feature of my invention,I provide, in a toy erection kit, an elongated gear member mounted forrotation about its axis and having spaced axial end portions. At leastone of these end portions is constructed and arranged fortorque-transmitting cooperation with another element so as to enabletransmitting of torque from the gear member to or receiving of torquefrom the other element.

This gear member, that is the worm gear, may be constructed in such amanner that the one end portion may be configurated as a flange or dischaving on its peripheral edge face a recessed groove in which a drivebelt or similar instrumentality is received which can cooperate with theaforementioned other element. Again, the groove may be provided on itsside walls or its bottom wall, or on both, with an annulus of gear teethwhich can matingly engage with the teeth of an other gear positioned soas to permit such arrangement. The end portion may be separate and besuitably secured to the remainder of the worm gear, but advantageouslyit will be of one-piece construction with the same.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objetcs and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematicillustration of a transmission arrangement utilizing a worm gearconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the worm gearbeing partly shown in longitudinal section;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a further detail view, in fragmentary illustration, of a wormgear embodying a further feature of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing indetail, and firstly FIGS. 1-3 thereof, it will be seen that referencenumeral 1 identifies a worm gear which is mounted on a shaft 2 so thattorque can be transmitted from the shaft 2 to the worm gear 1. Referencenumeral 3 identifies schematically a prime mover, for instance anelectromotor or the like, and it will be understood that the shaft 2 maybe the output shaft of the prime mover 3, or may be coupled in suitablemanner with this output shaft. A worm wheel 4- is mounted on a shaft 5about which it rotates and which in turn is supported in a housing 6connected in suitable manner with the prime mover 3. The worm wheel 4 isin engagement with the worm gear 1.

In accordance with the invention one end portion of the worm gear 1,namely the one adjacent the prime mover 3 in the illustrated embodiment,is provided with or configurated as a torque-transmitting portion 8. Inthe illustrated embodiment this portion 8 is of one-piece constructionwith the remainder of the worm gear 1, and is configurated as a disc offlange being provided in its peripheral edge face with a radiallyinwardly extending recess of annular configuration so that a drive beltor analogous member can be trained about the portion 8 in the annularrecess. Such drive belt is identified with reference numeral 9 and itwill be understood that by this connection torque can be transmittedfrom the worm gear 1 to another, non-illustrated element. Conversely itis of course clear that, should the worm gear not be covered with theoutput shaft of a prime mover, torque can be transmitted from suchnon-illustrated other element to the worm gear if desired.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate that in this embodiment the portion 8 isconstructed as a disc or flange, as already pointed out, and that theperipheral groove is identified with reference numeral While it will beappreciated that the side walls and the bottom wall bounding this groove10 may be smooth, it will be seen that in the illustrated embodiment thebottom wall is provided with an annulus of teeth 11, thus making itpossible to utilize the portion 8 not only in conjunction with the drivebelt or analogous element, but in conjunction with another gear, such asthe one identified with reference numeral 12, which in FIG. 3 is shownin engagement with the teeth 11 of the portion 8 provided on the wormgear 1. Again, torque of course be transmitted to or from the worm gear1 in this manner.

FIG. 4 illustrates how this construction can be made still moreversatile by providing the end portion 8a, as it is designated in FIG.4, with a plurality of gear teeth 13 which extend radially beyond theteeth of the worm gear 1. This makes it possible for these gear teeth 13to cooperatively engage with the corresponding gear teeth of atransmission member 14 which is shown in phantom lines and which issupported and guided on the worm gear 1, simply by being slipped overthe same. Engagement of the gear teeth 13 with those of the element 14couples the latter with the worm gear 1 in torque-transmittingrelationship, as will be appreciated.

This construction is of particular advantage if the worm gear 1 isdirectly secured to the output shaft of a prime mover. It has been foundthat the small diameter of such output shafts as are provided on thetype of prime mover used in toy construction kits makes it impracticalor impossible to releasably connect the worm gear in many instances withthe output shaft. Thus, in many cases the worm gear must be permanentlyconnected with the output shaft, for instance by press fitting or insimilar manner. Resorting to the embodiment of FIG. 4 makes it possible,in such circumstances, not only to non-releasably connect the worm gearwith the output shaft of the prime mover but still to use the primemover for driving other components despite the fact that access to theoutput shaft cannot be had directly. This is simply accomplished, aspointed out in FIG. 4, by having a member such as the element 14 soconfigurated that the element can be slipped over the worm gear from thefree end thereof until the inner teeth in the member 14 engage with theteeth 13 of the portion 8a so that the member 14 is coupled with theworm gear in torque-transmitting relationship. Of course it will beappreciated that the member 14 may in turn be configurated so that itcan drive a transmission belt or analogous element, or engage with theteeth of further gears. The member 14 is, of course, guided by and onthe worm gear 1 in this arrangement.

Needless to say, various different materials may be utilized forconstructing the worm gear 1 as well as the various other members andelements discussed herein. I have found it advantageous to use syntheticplastic material but I wish it understood that this is mentioned hereinby way of example only and that other materials are also suitable.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atoy erection kit, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,since various modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. In a toy erection kit, a drive arrangement comprising a prime moverhaving a rotatable output shaft; and a worm gear fixed to said outputshaft coaxially therewith for rotation with the same about itslongitudinal axis, said worm gear having spaced axial end portions atleast one of which is provided with a peripheral groove surrounding saidone end portion and adapted to receive belt means trained about thelatter.

2. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said one endportion and the remainder of said worm gear together are of one-piececonstruction.

3. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said one endportion is a peripherally grooved disc.

4. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, said one end portionbeing a disc provided with said peripheral groove bounded by bottom wallmeans and side wall means, at least one of said wall means beingprovided with an annulus of gear teeth adapted for cooperativeengagement with similar teeth on another member.

5. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said one endportion is provided with an annulus of gear teeth surrounding the axisof said worm gear.

6. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 5, wherein said annulusof gear teeth is concentric with the axis of said worm gear.

7. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 6, where in said wormgear comprises a plurality of primary teeth, and wherein said annulus ofteeth is constituted by secondary teeth, said secondary teeth projectingradially beyond said primary teeth.

8. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said wormgear is made from synthetic plastic material.

9. In a toy erection kit, an elongated Worm gear mounted for rotationabout its axis and having spaced axial end portions at least one ofwhich is configurated as a disc provided with a peripheral groovebounded by bottom wall means and side wall means, at least one of saidwall means being provided with an annulus of gear teeth adapted forcooperative engagement with similar teeth on another member so that saidworm gear may transmit torque to or receive torque from said othermember via said one axial end portion.

10. In a toy construction kit as defined in claim 9, said one wall meansbeing said bottom wall means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,777 10/1958 Porter 74-4323,339,426 9/1967 Borggraefe 74425 3,402,619 9/ 1968 Thurley et al. 74425FOREIGN PATENTS 1,034,081 7/1958 Germany.

LEONARD H. GERIN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 4623; 7415.66

